Tempting Danger: Sinclair and Raven series

by Vella, Wendy

  “Oh, pink,” Cam said from behind him.

  “Black,” Nicholas corrected, taking it from the man. “I loathe these things,” he added.

  “But for a man such as you they offer so much fun.” Lilly joined him.

  “I don’t think that statement was complimentary, sister.”

  “It wasn’t.” She patted his cheek. “But I love you anyway.”

  He kissed her cheek.

  “As you are not escorting anyone, Nicholas, will you take Alice’s hand for the walk down to the ballroom?” Wolf whispered the words to him. “I fear she is nervous and trying hard not to show it, and I will have Rose on my arm.”

  “Of course.” He could hardly refuse. And did not point out that Wolf had another arm.

  She was lurking at the rear of their family group, eyes going from left to right. Her dress was the softest blue, almost white. Demure, hinting at the body beneath, it showcased her beauty. All that black Sinclair hair was piled high and held in place with at least a dozen small pins with sparkling gems on the ends.

  Nicholas liked experienced women, he reminded himself. Women who had no expectations of commitment from him.

  He was sure that with exposure, his reaction to this woman would wane. After all, he had kept company with some of London’s most beautiful women, and none had made his heart beat faster.

  “Good evening, Alice. You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” The words were uttered in a distracted manner as she wrestled with the silver domino in her hands.

  “Allow me.” Nicolas took it from her and lowered it gently over her eyes. “Hold it in place.” She did as he asked, and he tied the ribbons together. “Now if you will take my arm, we will enter the ballroom.”

  “Oh... I had thought Wolf....” Her words fell away.

  “Take my arm, Alice.”

  She did, her fingers clenching and then relaxing on his sleeve.

  “Please allow me to apologize for my behavior at The Trumpeter. I am not usually such an idiot.”

  His words forced a laugh out of her.

  “Thank you for apologizing.”

  “So can we conclude that I am no longer shifty?”

  “We can.”

  “But am I honorable?”

  “Do you want to be?”

  “Very much so.” Strangely, he was no longer laughing. He wanted this woman to believe that of him, at the very least.

  “Then of course you are honorable.”

  Nicholas was far too happy with her words.

  “I would much rather be in Briarwood, curled up in my bed reading,” she whispered.

  “No, you wouldn’t.” They walked along the mezzanine above the ballroom. “Look down.”

  “I would rather not.”

  “I always think of them as brightly colored peacocks, all strutting about the place waiting for someone to notice them.”

  She snuffled.

  “If you’ll look down and slightly left, by that large pillar below, you’ll see the Dowager Duchess of Hope. Stay well clear of her. Once she captures your interest there is no escape for at least forty minutes, and that’s on a good day. She is prone to waxing on about her ten grandchildren until you want to stab yourself with the nearest hairpin simply to escape.”

  “She’s very large.”

  “Very, and wears far too much scent.”

  The fingers on his arm slowly relaxed as he talked.

  “To the right of her is Major Trent. Another to steer clear of. He tends to have both wandering eyes and hands.”

  “Ah.”

  “Exactly.”

  They were soon halfway down the stairs.

  “Remember, Alice, you are a Sinclair. Your uncle is an earl. You have a duke and marquis at your back also. You cower to no one.”

  “I really don’t want to like you,” she whispered. “But it seems I must. Are you the marquis at my back?”

  “I am. I shall try to do something to reverse your opinion of me soon.”

  “I’d be grateful.”

  They reached the ballroom, and Nicholas kept her hand on his arm and moved slowly around the room with the others. He was reluctant to let her go, especially considering the appreciative looks she was receiving from the young men in the room.

  “Remember that some will see wearing a mask as an excuse to approach you and not behave in as gentlemanly a manner as they should.”

  “I will not leave my family.”

  “Good girl.”

  “Thank you again, Nicholas,” Alice said when he released her to them.

  “It was my pleasure. I hope you will save me a dance also.”

  “Of course.” Her smile was nervous.

  He had the urge to stand at her side; instead, he bowed and walked away.

  Nicholas danced with several ladies; some he enjoyed for their conversation, others he didn’t. Miss Gimlett was firmly in the latter category.

  “The wainscoting, you’ll understand, is second to none in this room, my lord. Lady Mueller employed the services of the renowned French designer, Lequart.”

  He made the proper noises as she waxed on about the mundane subject of wainscoting and furnishings and let his eyes search the room for Alice. He couldn’t find her, but knew she’d be with her family somewhere. So far she’d danced with Captain Young, which he should be happy about as the man was harmless. Then Lord Sydney, who Nicholas knew was looking for a wife with money and connections. Alice certainly fitted those requirements. Next came Mr. Halladay. A nice enough man, if a little boring.

  Taking Miss Gimlett back to her friends as the dance ended, he wandered the room.

  “Smile, brother.”

  He forced his lips upward as he passed his sister dancing with Dev. Leaving the ballroom, he decided on a walk. Lord Mueller had an exquisite display of statues; he’d take a look at them.

  The room was large and lined with curtains drawn against the night sky. He wandered down the first row, studying the beauty of the white marble. Turning up the next, he found Alice observing the statues alone. She’d taken off her domino and was swinging it back and forth between her fingers. His was in his pocket.

  “I think you’re meant to be upstairs, Miss Sinclair.”

  She could be one of the statues, looking at her side profile, the elegant sweep of her neck and delicate curve of her chin.

  “Cam told me about these. I wasn’t sure I would get another chance to see them.”

  “The Three Graces,” he said, drawing near enough for Alice’s scent to reach him. Soft, elusive, and yet very much her.

  “Aglaea, Euphrosyn, and Thaila,” she said, pointing to the statues of the three women.

  “Splendor, Mirth, and Good Cheer,” he added.

  “Well done,” she congratulated him.

  “I am quite well read actually.”

  “For a rake, do you mean?”

  “Who told you I was a rake?”

  “I have good hearing and worked it out myself from snippets of conversation.”

  “Listening to gossip, Alice, tut tut. Surely you know not to believe everything you overhear?”

  “Some of those women find you irresistible. It’s quite nauseating actually how they wax on about you.”

  He could do nothing to stop the bark of laughter.

  “Some of their adoration is for my title, Alice, I assure you.”

  “Some, but not all.”

  He looked down at her. Their eyes caught and held. Something heavy settled around them. Expectation, awareness; there were plenty of words for it, and all of them should have had him walking away from her.

  “Was that a compliment?”

  “No, merely the truth.” Her voice had lowered to that gravelly tone he liked. The one she used when she wasn’t trying to be a lady. Strange how he knew this about her already.

  “So, are you enjoying your evening, Alice?”

  “Yes, thank you, it is interesting.”

  He moved closer.


  “Interesting how?”

  “Interesting to see that the men who wish to dance with me do so because of my associations, not because they wish to know me better.”

  His hand rose before he could stop it. She closed her eyes as he touched her cheek.

  “You are beautiful, and that is the reason they want to know you better.”

  “No—”

  “Yes.” He leaned closer. “Tell me to walk away, Alice.”

  Instead she closed the distance between them and kissed him.

  The moan came from Nicholas as he slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her closer.

  She drove every rational thought from his head. Every warning vanished, and all he could think about was how much more he wanted from this woman.

  Pressing her to his body, Nicholas took the kiss deeper. The feel of her was exquisite, just as it had been that day in the lane. The need inside him rose higher.

  “Alice.” He whispered her name against her lips, then kissed her deeply. This was what he’d wanted. Another taste of her, and yet he knew it was wrong. Knew that once more would never be enough.

  It was only the sound of footsteps that had him stopping. Nothing else but exposure could have done that. She slipped from his arms and walked down the row of statues.

  “A note has arrived for you, my lord.” A footman reached him holding a silver salver.

  “How did you know I was down here?” Nicholas’s voice sounded raw.

  “The butler saw you come this way, my lord.”

  “Thank you.” He took the note and the footman left.

  “Is something wrong?” Alice returned.

  “Other than the fact that I shouldn’t have kissed you... again, do you mean?”

  She remained silent.

  “It can’t happen anymore, Alice.”

  “Then stop doing it!”

  She had a point. His body still simmered from the feel of her pressed to him, but he should know better than to kiss an innocent like Alice Sinclair, especially considering his connection to her family.

  “There can be nothing between us, Alice, ever.”

  She looked away from him so he couldn’t read her expression. When their eyes met again, her face was emotionless, just like his.

  “Excellent. At least I have now had kissing practice for when another occasion arises.”

  “I beg your pardon?” He couldn’t believe she’d just said that. “You will not go about kissing men for practice.”

  She raised her chin, eyes the cool green of a forest.

  “I must learn somehow.”

  She was bluffing, he knew it, as did she, but it still annoyed the hell out of him. He felt a swift bite of jealousy at the thought of another man anywhere near her.

  “Open the note, it could be serious.” She said the words dismissively as she studied the Three Graces once more.

  He threw her a last look, his eyes lingering on her lovely body wrapped in that soft dress.

  Meet me in twenty minutes. I have news about the missing baby. Go to the terrace, then take the stairs down. Take the right path and walk. I will approach you soon.

  Nicholas folded the note and placed it in his pocket.

  “I must go.”

  “Where?”

  “To meet someone.”

  “Here?”

  “Yes, here.”

  “A liaison?”

  “What do you know about such things?”

  “I hear things.” She shrugged, looking far more relaxed than him. Especially considering what they had been doing just minutes ago.

  “Go upstairs, Alice.”

  “Yes, I must. I am due to dance with Captain Young shortly.”

  “You have already danced with him,” Nicholas said, then wished he’d shut his mouth.

  “Yes, and he is a nice man so I will do so again.” She left. He followed.

  “Be careful, you cannot be seen to show favor to one man without rumor starting.” Excellent, he was turning into his mother. She would have said exactly that.

  She ignored him and entered the ballroom to the left. Nicholas turned right. He encountered Cam.

  Bloody Sinclairs. You couldn’t walk a foot without stumbling over one.

  “Who’s stroked your fur the wrong way?”

  “I am not a feline, Cam.”

  “Your eyes are narrowed like one.”

  Cambridge was leaning on a wall, sipping a drink.

  “Why are you not dancing?” Nicholas joined him.

  “I don’t like to dance if Emily is not present, and as she rarely likes to go into society, I don’t dance a great deal.”

  “Why don’t you dance if she is not here?”

  “I feel as if I am betraying her.”

  And this, Nicholas realized, was true love.

  “But you’re not. Married people dance with other people constantly.”

  “I know that. It is just the way I feel.” Cam shrugged.

  “Why do you come then, if she cannot?”

  “Will not. She could come but chooses not to.”

  “My question still stands.”

  “She makes me. Emily thinks it’s important for me to come to these affairs occasionally and continue to mix with these people. I’ve tried to tell her I have no wish to, but she won’t listen and says that a social person like me needs this type of thing.”

  “I have complete faith you will wear her down.”

  “Thank you.”

  They watched the dancers in silence. He found Alice taking the floor with Captain Young. As he’d rarely experienced the emotion, the sting of jealousy hit him hard.

  “That could be a good match.”

  “Who?”

  “Alice and Captain Young. Lilly was right about them; he’d make her an excellent husband.”

  “He’s too stuffy for her, and his eyes are shifty.”

  Nicholas felt Cam’s eyes on the side of his face.

  “Young is a good man, Nicholas. He would make sure Alice is provided for and happy. She would do well with him. I’ll grant you that his eyes are too close together, but that does not make him shifty.”

  “As I have no say in the matter, your words are better saved for Wolf. But I had believed she was promised to the sainted Barty?”

  Cam made a noise in his throat.

  “What?”

  “I think that was a loose arrangement, or so Wolf led me to believe, even though he teases her about it. Apparently the man’s a bit vague.”

  “Well, she shouldn’t contemplate Captain Young, is all I’m saying.”

  Cam made that noise again.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “That noise was something.”

  “Just clearing my throat.”

  Without punching him, Nicholas knew he would not get an honest answer from Cam.

  “That’s a good match.” Dev wandered up with Lilly. They were looking at Alice and Captain Young.

  “I agree,” she added.

  “I just said that, but Nicholas disagreed,” Cam said.

  “I was merely pointing out that she has known him only briefly. Alice cannot know if Captain Young is a good match yet or not.” Nicholas’s necktie felt like it was strangling him all of a sudden. “Plus, there is the sainted Barty.”

  “No, you said he’s too stuffy and had shifty eyes,” Cam said with annoying accuracy.

  “I must go.” Nicholas said as Alice left the dance floor. “I am to meet someone.”

  “Who?” Lilly asked. “Not horrid Lady Ratchet, I hope?”

  Nicholas glared at his sister before walking away. No words were necessary.

  He headed out the French doors and onto the deck. Once there, he took the steps down and veered right, his thoughts on Alice marrying Captain Young.

  It would be a good match, he could admit that now he was alone. Unlike him, who was tainted by life’s experiences and far too jaded for a sweet young lady like her, Captain Young had a pristine
reputation, from what he knew of the man.

  His feet crunched on the shell path as he walked. Pushing Alice aside, he focused on whoever was waiting for him up ahead.

  Someone knew he was investigating the matter. Nicholas could think of only a handful of people. His family would not be sending him notes, and it was unlikely to be from the constable he had spoken with at the watch house. Which left Mr. and Mrs. Adley or someone connected to them.

  I can’t believe I kissed Alice Sinclair again.

  “Excellent, at least I have now had kissing practice for when another occasion arises.”

  She was a mouthy woman to say those words to him, and he loved that about her. No, not loved... but respected. Yes, that sounded a great deal better to Nicholas.

  Lord and Lady Mueller had extensive grounds. Nicholas knew he could be walking for a while before anyone approached him.

  Should he have told someone where he was going? Too late for that now.

  The torchlight was only for the paths closest to the house; as he advanced, darkness settled heavily around him. He’d been walking a while when he became aware he was no longer alone.

  Turning, he found six men behind him and realized just how stupid he’d been to come out here alone. Alice had addled his usually rational thought process.

  “You have news for me?” Nicholas said calmly.

  “No.”

  “I received a note.” He braced himself, knowing that these men were here to harm him. He was a fool for walking into this.

  “Oh, we sent it, all right, and what will follow is a warning to you. Keep your nose out of business that doesn’t concern you, or next time you won’t recover.”

  The words were spoken by the man who had stepped out of the line. Not overly tall, he was solid. Had it been just him and perhaps another, Nicholas could hold his own. James had taught him tricks that they would not expect.

  “You would harm a marquis... while on a nobleman’s property. Tsk tsk, when they catch you, all six of you will be sent on a nice long voyage to the colonies or locked away for a very long time.”

  “They won’t catch us!”

  “How did you get in here?”

  They didn’t answer.

  “Are there perhaps people inside who are involved in your schemes? Is that how the note was delivered?”

  The man’s surprise gave him away.